The Holmstad Celebrates 40 Years in Batavia
Forty years ago The Holmstad, which means 'village within a village,' joined the small town of Batavia as a three-story senior living residence of 72 apartments. This month, the faith-based, non-profit continuing care retirement community celebrated its 40th anniversary with a week's worth of resident-centered activities, programming, and a ceremonial tree planting.
Terri Cunliffe, CEO of The Holmstad's parent company Covenant Retirement Communities (CRC), led the planting of four species of trees - one for each decade - including a Bloodgood London planetree, a red beech, a ginkgo and a swamp white oak in various locations on the 38-acre campus.
Throughout the week, residents shared stories, memories and photos from the past. Using the new StoryCorps, Inc. app, they audio-recorded personal stories which will be downloaded and archived at the Library of Congress. Residents also prepared a time capsule to be opened on the community's 50th anniversary and learned from longtime CRC executives about the community's history in Batavia and its plans for the future. The community capped off the celebration with an evening of dancing during The Holmstad Ball.
Looking back over the past 40 years, Executive Director Tom Smith said The Holmstad has continually evolved to meet the ever-changing needs and expectations of today's seniors. Holmstad residents, he explained, "embrace a lifestyle of opportunity."
"Retirement isn't about wrapping up your life's work and settling down to watch the world go by," said Smith. "Retirement is about continuing to learn, grow and engage in the world around you. Our vision makes that possible."
The Holmstad is one of 14 Covenant Retirement Communities, the fifth largest non-profit senior living provider in the nation. Under the guidance of CRC and its 128-year legacy in senior living, The Holmstad offers a variety of living options, a continuum of care, and diverse programming to promote whole-person wellness.
This summer, The Holmstad introduced SAIDO Learning®, an innovative and proven method for treating those with Alzheimer's disease and other symptoms of dementia. CRC is one of only a handful of partners in the U.S. offering the program to residents. In communities where SAIDO is used, participating residents are more engaged in daily activities; they eat better; they are more socially engaged with
Its LifeConnect™ partnership with residents helps maximize personal wellness by identifying resources and opportunities on- and off-campus. Educational and cultural programming, creative arts, spiritual enrichment, service projects and volunteer outreach are a small sampling of a typical day for Holmstad residents.
"So much of what we offer at The Holmstad also extends into the Batavia community," added Kathy Viney, sales director, and 17-year Holmstad veteran.
The Holmstad's Town Center Art Gallery features visiting professional and local artists' work and receptions year round; there are musical performances, author presentations and educational programming; and Batavia families join the holiday tradition of walking through The Holmstad's Christmas Open House to view the life-sized nativity scenes created by resident artists and woodworkers.
To learn more about The Holmstad and upcoming programming or events, call 877-226-7310 or visit www.TheHolmstad.org.